By Ikemefuna Orizu
On November 6, people of voting age with permanent voters cards, PVC, in Anambra state will assemble at their registered polling units and points to vote for a new Governor for the state.
Although there are four major contenders by observation, a real look into the power play shows that Dr Obiora Okonkwo, the candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, is the lead candidate among the pack and next Governor of Anambra state if the electorate convert the open support for his candidacy to vote and defend their votes too.
Prior to the primary election of Peoples Democratic Party that held in June 2021, many Anambrians do not know what Zenith Labour Party is or what it represents. However, following the primary election of PDP, which was fraught with irregularities and characterized with flagrant disobedience of the party’s constitution, Dr. Okonkwo, a businessman and philanthropist, who many had believed would emerged as the candidate of the party, eventually came runner up.
Due to this development and coupled with a popular call by indigenes of the state from all works of life and across party lines on him to continue with his divine mission to rescue Anambra state, Zenith Labour Party was brought into the state and accepted by all to serve as vehicle for the gubernatorial actualisation of Dikeora.
As at today, Obiora Okonkwo is the only candidate whose support base cut across all party lines, and has no baggage across the entire Anambra state. He is also the only candidate that has no civil suit challenging his candidacy. This is unlike Valentine Ozigbo, Chukwuma Soludo and Andy Uba of PDP, APGA and APC respectively that have factions and rivals challenging the legitimacy of their candidacy. In APGA, there are three factions laying claims to the party’s ticket. In APC members of the party have vowed showdown with the candidate and have even approached the court to disqualify the party from the race. While in the case of PDP, the electoral body, INEC, has declined to list any of the contending factions as legitimate due to conflicting court orders.
Furthermore, Dr Obiora Okonkwo is seen as the consensus of all aggrieved party leaders and members across APC, PDP and APGA, and they have commenced mobilisation of the electorate to ensure his victory.
While many await the November 6 D-Day, I earnestly await a new Anambra state with Dr Obiora Okonkwo
Barrister Ikemefuna Orizu is a common Anambra man with PVC that lives in Obosi.
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